8/17/2017 8:11 PM PDT

He was picked up by NYPD at 10:16 PM after a 911 call was made by witnesses who saw a group of people popping wheelies and riding dangerously down the street. Law enforcement turned to social media and were able to identify Meek, who was riding without a helmet. NYPD then took him into custody.Meek Mill is currently in police custody after law enforcement sources tell us he drove a motorcycle recklessly through the streets of NYC.

Sources tell us Meek is being held for questioning in an Upper Manhattan Precinct after being taken in for the alleged stunt.

We're told at this time the rapper has not been arrested and booked ... but our law enforcement sources say that's imminent.

According to several of Meek's fans, his initial confrontation with police was documented on his Instagram's live stream.

8/17/2017 3:50 PM PDT

Actor Jeremy Lindholm -- who recently appeared on an episode of "Twin Peaks: The Return" -- is accused of viciously beating his girlfriend and trying to kill her ... and is facing an attempted murder charge.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... cops in Spokane, WA responded to a call from a local business about a man assaulting a woman with a bat, and when officers arrived ... we're told Lindholm was trying to flee with the bat still in his hand. Our sources say he surrendered in the alley and was taken into custody.

Based on witness statements and surveillance footage ... cops believe the victim's life was in danger. We're told Lindholm's attack as an "extremely violent assault" -- the video allegedly shows him striking his girlfriend on the head and body with the bat over a dozen times and also choking her. He allegedly said he wanted to kill her too.

The actor's facing multiple charges along with attempted second-degree murder, including second-degree assault. He's being held at the Spokane County Jail on $100k bond.

Lindholm's girlfriend was transported to the hospital and treated for non life-threatening injuries.

8/17/2017 4:54 PM PDT

The Roots are in the business of false advertising ... so claims its ex-drummer in a new lawsuit.

Frank "Knuckles" Walker -- who joined the band in 2002 but was cut loose back in May -- says the band is promoting performances as if he's still with the band. Frank also alleges the band never paid him his fair share of royalties.

In the suit -- first reported by the NY Daily News -- Frank says, by promoting appearances as if he's still a member, the band's using his likeness without permission. Frank adds that his legacy could be damaged if The Roots continue promoting gigs without admitting to fans he's no longer part of the group.

He calls the act despicable but doesn't elaborate on how the band shorted him. Frank's suing to get his cut and for The Roots to stop using pics of him to promote itself.

8/17/2017 1:48 PM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

Mark Vincent Kaplan -- who has repped the likes of Stephen Collins and Kevin Federline -- allegedly forced his tongue down a client's throat and repeatedly told her he needed to bang her to focus on her divorce case ... so she says in a new lawsuit, but Kaplan says this is a revenge lawsuit after he sued her for skipping out on her bill.

Kathy Hakakian ﻿claims Kaplan sexually assaulted her numerous times and she was forced to withstand the attack out of fear he'd quit her divorce case.

Kathy says in November 2016 Kaplan insisted meeting at an L.A. bar where he urged her to booze it up to relax. She says he tricked her into showing him her phone, where he found a nude photo of her. She says Kaplan grabbed her, pressed himself against her and put his tongue down her throat.

Hakakian claims Kaplan insisted on driving her home, but he pulled over on a darkened street and started groping and kissing her. She says she demanded that he stop, but she says he responded, "Now I'm motivated to give your case my undivided attention."

She says she stayed on as a client, and at some point they had lunch at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, where she says Kaplan asked, "How's your p***y doing?" She says Kaplan told her, "If you let me see another naked picture of you, it will really help me to focus on your case." She got up and left.

But she still stayed on as a client. Hakakian says Kaplan coaxed her into his office for what she thought was prep for a deposition. They were alone in his office and she says he told her he wanted to have sexual intercourse with her, saying, "When this case is over, I'm going to f**k your p***y so hard from behind you won't know what hit you."

Hakakian, who's repped by attorney Paul Phillips, says when she left she told his receptionist what happened, to which the receptionist replied, "This isn't the first time I've heard that."

Kaplan's rep tells TMZ, he sued her August 7 to get more than $150k that she owes him for lawyer's fees. He says she didn't pay because she was upset with the result in her divorce which ultimately was handled by a different lawyer. Kaplan says her allegations are wild and untrue and he's confident the judge will see it his way.

8/17/2017 1:09 PM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

Diddy handled some legal business with a paparazzo who claims the rapper's bodyguards jumped him ... but it took more than 5 years.

Diddy finally settled with photographer Gustavo Garces who was allegedly attacked on New Year's Eve 2011 after he snapped some pics of Diddy in his car at a downtown Miami hotel. The photog sued Diddy and his 2 security guys, claiming they held him and punched him while the rapper ordered them to take his camera.

The terms of the settlement are unknown, but this usually means the celeb coughed up some dough to make it go away. We've reached out to both sides ... so far no word back.

And if Gustavo's name sounds familiar, it's possibly because he once accused Justin Bieber of stealing his memory card ... also in Miami.

8/17/2017 9:15 AM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

Ray J's had it up to HERE trying to strike a settlement with "Celebrity Big Brother" for kicking him off the show ... so he's gonna sue to get the dough he says he's owed.

Sources close to Ray J tell TMZ ... his legal team and the production company have been negotiating for months but talks have hit a wall ... so RJ's manager, David Weintraub, has given his legal team the green light to file papers.

The issue -- Ray J says 'CBB' agreed to pay him $1 million and he says the show's gotta cough it up because 'CBB' unfairly kicked him out following a dental emergency.

TMZ broke the story ... Ray J was booted from the UK show back in January after complaining of an unbearable toothache that required a dentist to visit on set, 8 pain killers and an ambulance ride to the hospital after blacking out.

Ray J will ask that the show pay him the hundreds of thousands he says he's still owed, a public apology and an invitation to come back next season.

8/17/2017 8:26 AM PDT

Breaking News

Tennis superstar Victoria Azarenka -- one of the best players in the world -- has finally broken her silence on the custody war that could force her to miss the US Open ... saying it's unfair that she has to choose between her job and her kid.

As we previously reported, Azarenka is at war with her baby daddy -- who filed custody papers in L.A. and the judge overseeing the case won't let Victoria take the kid out of the state while the trial rages.

Problem is ... the US Open starts on August 28 in NY -- but Azarenka says she REFUSES to leave her kid behind.

"Shortly after Wimbledon, Leo’s father and I separated and as we work to resolve some of the legal processes, the way things stand now is that the only way I can play in the US Open this year is if I leave Leo behind in California, which I’m not willing to do."

"No one should ever have to decide between a child and their career, we are strong enough to do both," Azarenka said.

Azarenka's attorney, Laura Wasser, recently told the judge the tennis star is more than willing to buy a plane ticket for the baby daddy and put him up in a hotel for the 2-week tournament, but the judge said no.

Still, Victoria is holding out hope that the two sides can reach an amicable resolution.

"I remain optimistic that in the coming days Leo’s father and I can put aside any differences and take steps in the right direction to more effectively work as a team and agree on an arrangement for all three of us to travel and for me to compete but, more importantly to ensure that Leo has a consistent presence from both of his parents."

8/16/2017 1:55 PM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

The ex-radio DJ who lost big in the Taylor Swift ass-grabbing trial is desperate for a gig in radio -- so much so ... he'll work for free.

David Mueller says he's put plenty of feelers out, but so far no bites. He's so desperate he's willing to start at the bottom again and do what interns do at radio stations ... as in, "caller, you're next."

He thinks right now his face is poison ... even though it's radio, but he has a solution for that.

8/16/2017 10:02 AM PDT

Breaking News

The NFL is calling out the NFL Player's Association ... saying the league has received tips that the NFLPA is going on a smear campaign against Ezekiel Elliott's accuser in an effort to exonerate the RB.

Multiple reports have surfaced in the past few days, painting the accuser as everything from a racist to an extortionist ... and the NFL's public relations honcho says the reports are shameful.

"Over the past few days we’ve received multiple reports of the NFLPA spreading derogatory information to the media about the victim in the Ezekiel Elliott discipline case," Brian McCarthy said.

"It's a common tactic to attempt to prove the innocence of the accused by discrediting the victim -- in this case Ms. Thompson -- when coming forward to report such abuse."

"Common or not, these tactics are shameful. Efforts to shame and blame victims are often what prevent people from coming forward to report violence and/or seek help in the first place."

We called the NFLPA for comment -- so far, no word back.

The NFL is standing by itsinvestigation into Zeke -- which the league says showed a pattern of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson.

8/16/2017 10:15 AM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

There's a new upcoming music fest raising eyebrows in wake of the disastrous Fyre Festival ... and one man claims he's already been ripped off by it.

Simon Perez says in a new lawsuit ... he was hired by the Starfest Music Festival -- scheduled to go down next month in Plano, TX -- to book big musical acts for a 15 percent commission. According to the docs ... Starfest told Perez they'd already booked Drake, and had deep pockets for him to find additional headliners.

Perez claims he got busy and delivered offers to musicians like Deadmau5, Flo Rida, All-American Rejects, DJ Khaled, Macklemore and more, and was able to sign Deadmau5 for $500k in July ... which meant a $75k commission for himself. He says he also scored Flo Rida for the fest for $125k, meaning an additional $18,750 in commission.

Problem is -- Perez claims Starfest went behind his back to sign musicians on its own to avoid triggering his commission. He says Starfest denies he had any part in booking Deadmau5 and Flo Rida, and still hasn't cut him a check ... or even given him a cheese sandwich.

He's suing for damages and legal fees. He's being represented by Colony Law.

8/16/2017 8:05 AM PDT

PresidentDonald Trump's ex-campaign manager threatened his neighbors with a baseball bat and vaguely threatened to get the President involved ... this according to a new lawsuit.

Corey Lewandowski -- the same guy infamously charged with misdemeanor battery for manhandling a reporter at a Trump campaign event in 2016 -- allegedly threatened to use his political connections to bury his neighbors after a land dispute.

In docs, Glenn and Irene Schwartz also claim Lewandowski intimidated them by standing outside with a baseball bat. The beef stems over Lewandowski's claim -- in a $5 million lawsuit -- his neighbors blocked access to his pond-front lot in Windham, New Hampshire.

The neighbors countersued ... alleging the threats caused them emotional distress, and that Lewandowski illegally tapped into a private well on their property disrupting their electrical power. The Schwartzes are suing for unspecified damages.